Financial tip……..

Ok..being Ms Frugal that I am I wanted to share a little technic I have been using the last month or so and have found very helpful.   My hubby took a new job and it decreased our monthly income by at least $300.00 a month.  So I have needed to be very mindful of our budget each day.

After I have paid bills I put a small yellow sticky in my checkbook breaking down what I have to spend for the week.  

Example:

CHristmas  – 25.00
Groceries – 50
Church – 25.00
Gas – 30
Meds – 25
Target – 25 (diapers, cat litter, vitmins)

Fun $ – 50.00  

Now after each time I make a purchase, let’s say I go to Target and get the diapers, I deduct the amount from what I budgeted for Target and I have a new total.   Now when I add all these amounts up they general total to the amount in my checking account.   I find this very helpful and have stayed on budget for over a month.   A very tight budget I might add and you can guess from the item for Christmas, I did budget for Christmas and didn’t put anything on a credit card.  I will not be paying off Christmas in January!  Fun money is my money to do what I want…I generally don’t spend mine.  I might buy a book or something for the kids.  

Next year I am putting my left over fun money away each week and will be saving for a larger purchase.   Right now I use my leftover to finish my Christmas Shopping.  

I jsut wanted to share this with you since I have found it so helpful.